What is prophylactic therapy?

What is prophylactic therapy?
How is it done in the retina for a patient suffering from Peripheral Lattice degenerations?

My husband had weak spots in both his eyes 8 years back,
After 4 years, one of his eye developed a retinal tear, so his doctor did a laser seal over it.
Now after 3 years, his doctor confirmed that hez suffering from lattice degeneration.
Multiple weak spots have developed near the laser seals, and a new hole(linear) has developed in the posterior part of his retina(both eyes) which has got some pigmentation.

Our doctor(retinal specialist) gave us a cold look and told us to follow up for the annual check-up and adviced us to report immediately if we find any sudden vision changes.

How bad is my husband's eye condition? Our retinal specials isnt explaing much to us.
I have to keep myself updated about the treatments and precauions about my hubby's eye condition.
It would be nice if I can know about prophylactic therapy and how is it done in the retina for a patient suffering from Peripheral Lattice degenerations?
What else can I do in terms of vitamins/diet....etc to preserve my hubb's vision???
Pls pls pls help

Thanks,
Sangeetha

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear sangs_pec,

Prophylactic treatment is usually done if there is traction or fluid around the holes.  If you are concerned, call the eyeMD and ask for more information from your doctor.  

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[sangs_pec]

How is prophylactic treatment done?
I know it... is usually done if there is traction or fluid around the holes to preserve vision from retinal detachment. But I want to know the process. Its risk factors. I had been searching all over the net but dint get any hit.

I am really concerned to the extent that....its like living with a time bomb ticking for 8 years. Its so stressful and I want to update as much as I could. I don't want to take chances. Do any wrong treatment which will mess my husbands vision. Please please please help.  

[berrywoo]

prophylactic: is any preventative measure. For example birth control pills or condoms are prophylactics.

In your husband's case of lattice degeneration, measures to prevent a retinal detachment are done only if there is a HIGH risk of detachment. Thus there would have to be a lot of traction and/or fluid build up and/or he is experiencing active symptoms of a retinal detachment, like flashes and increase in floaters. There are many people with lattice who do not undergo any treatment and are perfectly fine. Also, many retinal holes do not require treatment. Many times preventative measures can end up doing more harm than good.

The treatment is either laser photocoagulation (direct or indirect) or cryotherapy or laser cerclage. Although, the last is not performed too often. There is much on the net about these procedures.

Your husband should already know the risks of the above since he's already undergone a laser procedure in the past.

[sangs_pec]

Thank you  berrywoo